School Food Fight Brewing
Friday, October 20, 2006
By DANIELLE SHAPIRO
HERALD NEWS
PATERSON – School cafeteria workers are unhappy the Board of
Education is considering privatizing food service operations in an
effort to cut costs.
The aggressive fiscal measures are necessary, Schools
Superintendent Michael Glascoe said, because the food services
department is operating at a $4 million deficit.
Glascoe said privatization is just one of several options the
district is considering to stop the financial hemorrhaging.
"We're studying this very carefully," Glascoe said at the Board of
Education meeting Wednesday night. "I'm going to debate with
the school board members. I'll ask them, what do you want me to
do?"
And there was discourse, as many of the 20 or so speakers at the
meeting addressed the issue of privatization. Cafeteria employees
stressed their local connections as city residents and their
affection for the students. Several also complained about not
having a contract for the second consecutive year.
"Why, out of all the departments, you picked the little people?"
questioned Sandra McPheerson to raucous cheers. McPheerson is
the Paterson Food Services Workers Association's vice president
and the food service manager for School 15.
"How can you do this to us? I love these children. This is our
job," she said.
The Paterson Food Services Workers Association is the
bargaining agent for about 250 employees, 80 percent of whom
live in Paterson, said John Ropars, the New Jersey Education
Association's field representative.
Meanwhile, several school board members voiced their concerns
about privatization as well, with Lawrence Spagnola noting that
he does not support the move.
"I'm not going to vote for Paterson people to lose their jobs," he
said.
Andre Sayegh said he thought there was considerable confusion
among the public about the school district's privatization plans
and emphasized that using outside vendors is only in an
exploratory phase. He also said he does not think previous
privatization of custodial and security services several years ago
has saved the district as much money as hoped, and he opposes
privatizing again.
The board ultimately tabled a vote on initiating competitive
bidding for food service operations.
Sayegh said he wanted to hear additional comments from the
community before deciding what to do about the budget shortfall,
and also wanted to work with the public to find an answer for
reducing costs.
"How can we put our heads together for a solution?" he said.
"We value their voices."
The district's contract offer to cafeteria workers was "woefully
low," especially compared to what other district employees are
paid, Ropars said Thursday. Cafeteria workers earn between
$10,000 and $20,000, although part-time employees earn less than
$10,000, he said. Because negotiations are ongoing, Ropars would
not say what the district's latest contract offer was.
But Ropars accused the district of using privatization as a
bargaining chip to get the workers to accept their offer.
"It's clearly a hammer over the head of the cafeteria workers to
accept a poor contract," he said.
Ropars also questioned Glascoe's contention that the food
services department has a $4 million deficit. He asked the district
in a Oct. 10 letter for a financial analysis of cafeteria operations
for the last three years. The district has yet to respond to the
union's request, he said.
On Thursday, Glascoe would not comment on the negotiations
between the school district and the cafeteria workers' union,
because the talks are ongoing.
The superintendent explained that his focus is on providing for
the district, the students and if there was an additional $4 million,
the money would be spent on classroom initiatives or maybe even
to enhance food service operations.
Friday, October 20, 2006
By DANIELLE SHAPIRO
HERALD NEWS
PATERSON – School cafeteria workers are unhappy the Board of
Education is considering privatizing food service operations in an
effort to cut costs.
The aggressive fiscal measures are necessary, Schools
Superintendent Michael Glascoe said, because the food services
department is operating at a $4 million deficit.
Glascoe said privatization is just one of several options the
district is considering to stop the financial hemorrhaging.
"We're studying this very carefully," Glascoe said at the Board of
Education meeting Wednesday night. "I'm going to debate with
the school board members. I'll ask them, what do you want me to
do?"
And there was discourse, as many of the 20 or so speakers at the
meeting addressed the issue of privatization. Cafeteria employees
stressed their local connections as city residents and their
affection for the students. Several also complained about not
having a contract for the second consecutive year.
"Why, out of all the departments, you picked the little people?"
questioned Sandra McPheerson to raucous cheers. McPheerson is
the Paterson Food Services Workers Association's vice president
and the food service manager for School 15.
"How can you do this to us? I love these children. This is our
job," she said.
The Paterson Food Services Workers Association is the
bargaining agent for about 250 employees, 80 percent of whom
live in Paterson, said John Ropars, the New Jersey Education
Association's field representative.
Meanwhile, several school board members voiced their concerns
about privatization as well, with Lawrence Spagnola noting that
he does not support the move.
"I'm not going to vote for Paterson people to lose their jobs," he
said.
Andre Sayegh said he thought there was considerable confusion
among the public about the school district's privatization plans
and emphasized that using outside vendors is only in an
exploratory phase. He also said he does not think previous
privatization of custodial and security services several years ago
has saved the district as much money as hoped, and he opposes
privatizing again.
The board ultimately tabled a vote on initiating competitive
bidding for food service operations.
Sayegh said he wanted to hear additional comments from the
community before deciding what to do about the budget shortfall,
and also wanted to work with the public to find an answer for
reducing costs.
"How can we put our heads together for a solution?" he said.
"We value their voices."
The district's contract offer to cafeteria workers was "woefully
low," especially compared to what other district employees are
paid, Ropars said Thursday. Cafeteria workers earn between
$10,000 and $20,000, although part-time employees earn less than
$10,000, he said. Because negotiations are ongoing, Ropars would
not say what the district's latest contract offer was.
But Ropars accused the district of using privatization as a
bargaining chip to get the workers to accept their offer.
"It's clearly a hammer over the head of the cafeteria workers to
accept a poor contract," he said.
Ropars also questioned Glascoe's contention that the food
services department has a $4 million deficit. He asked the district
in a Oct. 10 letter for a financial analysis of cafeteria operations
for the last three years. The district has yet to respond to the
union's request, he said.
On Thursday, Glascoe would not comment on the negotiations
between the school district and the cafeteria workers' union,
because the talks are ongoing.
The superintendent explained that his focus is on providing for
the district, the students and if there was an additional $4 million,
the money would be spent on classroom initiatives or maybe even
to enhance food service operations.
IN THE NEWS . . .
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ONE PEOPLE.
ONE PURPOSE.
ONE PATERSON.
ONE PURPOSE.
ONE PATERSON.
Sayegh For The Sixth
Bringing Neighbors Together